Four years after task force began, still no stairs at Albion Falls

A city of Hamilton task force has been talking about building stairs and better viewing platforms at Albion Falls since 2017.

They're still talking.

And one waterfall adventure seeker is calling on the city to - in the interest of visitors' enjoyment and safety - get a move on.

Discussions began after the city installed $50,000 worth of fencing plus new signage at the Mountain site in the summer of 2017 in the hopes it would deter would-be adventurers - trespassers, the city would call them - from heading down dangerous non-city-sanctioned paths. Months prior, the popular city-owned falls was the site of dozens of rope rescues and one tragic death.

Coun. Tom Jackson, whose ward includes Albion Falls, was on board with the fencing, but he still wanted people to enjoy the views - safely. So the task force was struck, with the goal of one day installing more viewing platforms and stairs to safely accommodate people who wanted to explore.

Still, no stairs exist. There's no ETA on building them either.

Alex Bonenfant, an Oakville outdoors enthusiast who frequents Hamilton's waterfalls, says without safe infrastructure, people will still be tempted take risks.

Many people are still going to find a way down," he said. Bonenfant launched a petition this spring asking the city and other authorities to stop blocking access" to local waterfalls.

He notes that when people planning trips google Albion Falls," the first photo they see is from an area at the bottom of the falls - a no-go area. So when they arrive, that's inevitably what they expect: an ability to get to the bottom. Fencing and hefty fines won't deter everyone, he says.

Indeed, a Spectator photographer spotted two people at the bottom of the falls just this week.

And the city says 1,000 fines have been issued to people going out-of-bounds near local waterfalls - Albion among them - this year alone.

So why has nothing been built?

Jackson's three-pronged answer: the task force needs to guarantee residents have had ample opportunity to weigh in and the city needs to reassure them streets won't be overrun with parked cars when people flock to a newly improved attraction; COVID, which has delayed progress; and cost, as the city's development funding currently only covers half the $1.9 million budgeted for this project.

Bonenfant has an idea on the cost front: charge out-of-towners for parking. Let that pay for stairs and platforms.

Jackson says that's something the task force is considering, along with parking fees for everyone, but he personally isn't a fan.

I don't want people to feel there's a financial impediment," Jackson said.

Still, no stairs or platforms are in Hamilton's immediate future. Jackson couldn't give an estimate date for when they might be built.

The task force and city staff have been working on getting the project going over the past four years. The city says that archeological assessments, rock slope assessments and geotechnical studies are complete, as well as some community consultation.

In the meantime, Bonenfant continues his push for less-intense fencing, less-ominous warnings, more infrastructure and more fun. Until then, he thinks of Albion Falls as the most regulated nature area I've ever been to."

It kind of felt like I was walking beside an electric generator plant," he said.

Katrina Clarke is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: katrinaclarke@thespec.com